Water-controlling mechanism for laundry-tubs.



T; BIRKENMAIER, WATER CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY TUBS.

- APPLICATION H LED MAY 15, 1916- 1 ,25Q Q7Q, Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

3 .SHEETS-SHEET 1.

77/500 ORE [Sm/r5 T. BIRKENMAIE R. WATER CONTROLLING MECHANISM -FORLAUN'DRY was.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1916'.

' Patented Jan.1,1918;

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mrfaoaiae B/R/rE/WM (ER T. 'BIRKENMAIER.

WATER CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY TUBS.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 15, 19-16.

Patented J an. L 1918'.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- Y'II-IEODCRE BIRKENMAIER, or ST. Louis, MISSOURI. V

WATER-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LA NDRY-runs.

provement in Tater-Controlling Mechanism for Laundry-Tubs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to fluid controlling mechanisms, and moreparticularly, to mechanism for controlling the water to be delivered tolaundry tubs.

This class of mechanisms operates under unusual conditions, for thereason that the presence of water, soap and lint will seriouslyafiectand hinder the operation of any mechanism which is placedcontiguous to a laundry tub, whichis subjected to thesesubstances.Moreoven'the class of operators employed is usually unskilled, and,therefore, unfamiliar with mechanism and the care required to maintainthe same in order.

In some prior constructions, it hasbeen the practice to operate andcontrol the valves b v means of springs or electro-magnets There aspringis employed, the same is necessarily exposed to the water andsoap,

and, in a short time, will rust and get out of i order, so as to fail tooperate the mechanism when deslred. An ele'ctro-magnet, on the otherhand, is liable to become short cir- ,cuited, or its connections, eventhough water? proofed, may become short circuited, so as to render thesame useless to operate the mechanism. vMoreover, an electro-magnet is arather expensive construction and in addition requires close ad ustmentto .keep it in order.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a fluidcontrolling Inechanism of the class described, in which the operation ofthe valves will be positive and certain, which is not liable to' get outof Further objects will appear from the de tail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an end elevation of a laundry Specification of LettersPatent. I

tub showing a controlling mechanism embodying this invention; Fig. 2 isan enlarged section on the line 22, Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 83, Fig; 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionon the line 4- 4. Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55, Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged" section on the line Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectionon the line (7, Flg. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 designates a laundry tub having the usual inlet pipe 2, which has aconnection at 3 with a pair of'valve casings 4,, in turn connected witha pair of pipes delivering, respectively, hot and cold water to thevalve cas- One of the valve casings isshown in detail in Fig. 5 and asshown it is provided with a removable valve seat 6 cooperating with anoutwardly opening valve 7 having a stem 8 guided in a bearing 9 on thevalve seat. The

valve seat extendsdownwardly to form ashort cylinder 10, one or" whoseheadsl'l 1s provided with-a number of small perforations 12; and whoseother head 13 1s removable. Both heads are machined to provide bearingsfor the valve stem. This valve stem hasiiXed thereto a piston 14provided with a number of small perforations 15.

The valve stem has a roll 16 engaging a cam 17 on a shaft IS, which iseccentrically mounted with respect to the center line of the valve stem.A pin 19 on the valve cooperates with the bearing 9 to prevent the valvefrom turning. The casing'is provided with a removable cap 20 to permitassembling and inspection of the valve casing'and parts.

Both valve casings are, identical in construction, and a description ofone is, therefore, sufiicient. Itwillbe seen that, if the shaft 18 ismoved in'a counterclockwise di rection, Fig. 5,'the valvewill be raisedfrom its seat againstthe'pressure of the water abovethe valve. If theshaftis now released, the "pressure of the waterwfll act to; close thevalve. Withhigh pressure thisis, howeveeliatie to cause awater hammer;to

7 Patented Jan. 1,-. 1918.. Applicationfiled ma 15,1916. Seria1No.97,73

anisms heretofore described.

avoid this the piston 14 is provided, which, cotiperating with thecylinder, actsas a retarding dash-pot to permit the valve to closegradually, thereby avoiding the water hammer. I

Each shaft 18 has fixed thereto a handle 25, which in turn has pivotedthereto at 26 a toothed segment 27. The other end of the segment isconnected by a link 28 with an arm 29 pivoted at 30 on the handle, andhaving a finger piece 31 integral therewith. A spring 32, between thehandle 25 and the grip 31, normally operates th move the segment 27outwardly, a lug 24: on the arm 29 engaging the handle 25li1niting theoutward movement of the segment. Each valve operating shaft 18 isprovided with a similar segment, and these segments are engaged-bylatches pivoted at 3% and moved into engagement with the segments bymeans of a spring 35. The tails 36 of the latches are engaged by theconical end of a plunger 37 working in a bearing 38 on the casing 3, andresting on the weighted end 39 of a lever l0 pivoted at 4:1 on a lugextending from the casing 33.

lVith this construction the right hand shaft 18, Fig. 2, may be moved ina counterclockwise direction to lift its valve, the teeth on the segment27 in such a case simply snapping over the beveled face of the righthand latch 33, and the segment and the shaft 18 will be retained intheir position of adjustment. Similarly, the left hand valve can beopened by moving its shaft 18 in a clockwise direction. In order torelease a valve manually, the finger piece 31 is operated, whichoperates to withdraw its segment 27 out of engagement with its latch, soas to permit manual return of the valve. Movement of the lever 40 in acounterclockwise direction, as by depression of the left hand end of thelever, will cause the pin 37 to rise, thereby spreading apart the tailsof the latches and bringing together the beveled ends so as to withdrawthese beveled ends from the segments and release the same, therebycausing the water pressure to close the valves.

Mounted on a stand 45 is a casing 46 connected, at its lower end, by apipe a7, with the interior of the tub or receptacle 1. Mounted on thiscasing is a cap l8, which has .attachcdthereto, or is integral with, thecasing 3 supporting the valves and the mech- Movable in the casing is acarrier e9, which has mounted therein a vertical rod 50 connecting thebottom andtop of the carrier. This rod has slidably mounted thereon asleeve 51 provided, at its lower end, with an annular shoulder 52, andat its upper end with a head 53. Slidable on the sleeve 51 is a weightor gravity member 530 forming an actuator, as hereinafter described.This weight has an annular shoulder 5a adapted to be engaged by a latch55 pivoted at 56 on a lug 57 on the carrier 4&9. The latch has a tail 58within the path of movement of a rod 59 guided in lugs 60 on thecarrier, and connected, at its lower end, with a float 61 movable on therod 50 and arrested by the cross piece 62 of the carrier.

Mounted on the head et8 is a bracket 65 carrying a casing 66, which isprovided with a bearing 67 to receive a shaft 68. This shaft has fixedthereto a sheave 69 having attached thereto, at its periphery, a cord 70passing through an aperture in the casingand over a pulley 71 mounted ona bracket 72 on the casing, over a second pulley 73 on the head 4L8, andhence connected to the upper cross piece of the frame49. A spring 7 5mounted on the shaft 68 between the casing and a knurled nut 75 on theshaft, ,opcrates to frictionally retain the shaft 68 and its'sheave 69in any desired adjusted position.

Loosely mounted on the hub of the sheave 69 is a second sheave 76, whichhas also attached to its periphery a cord 77 passing over a pulley 78 onthe lever 40, over a second pulley 7 9 on the head 48,.and henceconnected, at its lower end, to the head 53 of the sleeve 51. The sheave69 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 80, and the sheave 76 isprovided with a lug 81. A spring 82 coiled between the sheaves, andengaging a pin 83 on the sheave 69 and a pin 84: on the sheave 76,normally operates to hold the lug S1 in engagement with the left handlug 80, Fig. l. The sheave 76 has fixed thereto a head 85, and this headis cut away, as shown at 86, to permit a limited movement of a pointer87 fixed to the shaft 68 and moving over a scale on a dial plate 88attached to the casing by a ring 89. The space 86 is so proportioned asto leave ample clearance between the pointer 87 and the head 85, so thatthe relative movement of the sheaves 69' and 76 will only be limited bythe lugs and 81.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in the drawings, with theweight re tained by the latch 55, with the valves set,

and the segments latched in position bythe latches 33, the operationwill now be as follows:

The water in the tub rising will, after its level reaches a certainpoint, determined by l,

the position of the float 61, raise this float, thereby causing the rod59 to engage the tail of the latch 55 and release the weight or actuator530. The weight willdrop, and

after falling a distance will be arrested by the shoulder 52. Duringthis falling move ment of the weight, it w ll acquire consider ableinertia, and the sudden arresting of the weight will cause the inertiaof the mass to pull on the cord 77, 'lhis cord 1s, however,

fixed tothe sheave 76, which is in turn re tained by the engagementof'the lug 81 with the lug'80, it being understood that the ten sion ofthe spring 74 is sufficient to prevent movement of the shaft 68 underthe pull exerted on the cord 77 by the weight. The result is, therefore,that the only thing which can give is the lever 40, and the left endthereof will, therefore, be pulled down, thereby causing the right endto raise and release the segments 27, as heretofore de scribed, therebycausing the water pressure to close the valves. On account of the impactcaused by the weight, and the accumu lated inertia, the weightwillactw'ith considerable force, and with great rapidity, to release thevalves quickly and with certainty.

In order to again set the apparatus, the operator will first turn thehead 85. in a clockwise direction, thereby causing the sheave 76,through the cord 7 7, to raise'the' sleeve 51 carrying with it theweight 530 until the shoulder 54 snaps over the latch The operator canreadily determine when this takes place, for the reason that the pointer87 will remain stationary until the lug 81 engagesthe right lug 80, Fig.4, at which time the weight will have been raised. It is, of course,understood that the spring 82, being weaker in its action than 74, will,even when tensioned, not causethe shaft 68 to be moved. When the head85' is now released, it will return backto normal position, and thesleeve 51 will, of course, drop.

The operator will. then again set the valves as before, and theapparatus will then be in position for its next operation.

In the above adjustment, it has been assumed that the sheave 69 has notbeen moved, so that the apparatus is set for the same water level asbefore. In order to set the apparatus for a different water level, the

operator will, when raising the weight,oon-

tinue the movement of the handle until the, pointer is moved to theproper position.

This will raise the carrier 49 so as to raise the float and with it thelatch 55 and all the other parts attached to the carrier, whereby thefloat will now be moved only at the high water level to releasethecontrolling latch 55 for the actuator 530. If, on the other hand, theapparatus is to be set for a lower water level, then the operatorcan,'either be-' tion accomplishes its objects. An apparatus.

is produced which is not alone simple in constructlon and operation,but. entlrel'y pos1 tive in its'action. The use of springs, eleetro-magnets, and other devlces lIlSlClQ'Of the whereby the weight can bemade very small".-

The arrangement of the valve segments 27 is such that the Valves may bereadily set for any desired valve opening, and any desired quantity andtemperature of water may, therefore, be obtained.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from'the spirit of this invention, and itis, therefore, .tobe understood that this invention is not to be limitedto the specific construction shown and dzscribed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: o v

1. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve'in saidconnection, means for actuating said valve, means for setting saidvalve, a grav-' ity member connected with said settmg means foractuating the same, means for set- V ting and retaining said gravitymember in suspension with said valve set, and mechani cal means governedby the rise of fluid in the receptacle for mechanically releasing saidmember, adapted to release said valve when the fluid in said receptaclereaches a predetermined maximum level.

2. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, .a fluidconnection adapted to deliver-the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for actuating saidvalve, means for setting said'valve,an operating connection for said setting means, a gravity member on saidoperating connection for actuating the same, means for holding saidmember in suspension, and mechanical means governed by the rise of fluidin'the receptacle for mechanically releasing said member, constructed tocause sald member tobe arrested by sald operating connection and actthrough inertia to release said valve when the'fiuid in said receptaclereaches a predetermined maximum level.

3. In fiuid'controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an'operating connection forsaid setting means, a gravity member movable on saidop'erating'connection adapted to actuate the same, means-for settingandretaining said member in suspension, and mechanical means governed bythe r1se of flu d ln'sa d recep-' taele for releasing said member,constructed when the fluid in said receptacle reaches a predeterminedmaximum level.

4. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans adapted ,to actuate the same to release the valve, means forretaining said actuator in suspension, mechanical means governed by therise of fluid in the receptacle for mechanically releasing said actuatorto release said valve, and means for adjusting said retaining means fora predetermined maximum level in the receptacle.

5. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans adapted to actuate the same to release the valve, means forretaining said actuator in suspension, mechanical means governed by therise of fluid in thereceptacle for mechanically releasing said actuatorto release said valve, and means for adjusting said retaining means fora predetermined maximum level in the receptacle.

6. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position with the valve set,mechanical means governed by the rise of fluid in the receptacle formechanically releasing said actuator to release said valve when thefluid in said receptacle reaches a predetermined maximum level, andmeans for setting said actuator preparatory to its actuation forreleasing the valve.

7. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position with the valve set,mechanical means governed by the rise of fluid in the receptacle for mechanically releasing said actuator to release said valve when the fluidin said receptacle reaches a predetermined maximum level, and means forsetting said actuator and its releasing means preparatory to actuationfor releasing the valve.

8. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted'to deliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position with the valve set,mechanical means governed by the rise of fluid inthe receptacle formechanideliver the fluid to a receptacle, a valve in;

said connection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for saidsettmg'means, means for retaining said actuator in position with thevalve set, mechanical means governed by the rise of fluid in thereceptacle for mechanically releasing said actuator to release saidvalve when the fluid in said receptacle reaches a predetermined maximumlevel, and means for setting said actuator and thereafter its releasingmeans preparatory to actuation for releasing the valve.

10. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position with the valve set,means governed by the rise of fluid in the receptacle for releasing saidactuator to release said valve when the fluid in said receptacle reachesa predetermined maximum level, a carrier for said actuator and itsretaining means, and means for adjusting said carrier for a determinedmaximum fluid level in said receptacle.

11. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, afluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position with the valvesset, means governed by the fluid in the receptacle for releasing saidactuator to release said valve, a carrier for said retaining means andfor its releasing means, and means for adjusting said carrier.

l2. In fluid controlling mechanismof the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator 1n POSl'.

tion with the valve set, means governed by the fluid in the receptaclefor releasing said actuator to release said valve, a .carrier for saidactuator, for said retaining means and for its releasing means, andmeans for setting said actuator.

13. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an actuator for said settingmeans, means for retaining said actuator in position withthe actuatorfor said settingmeans, means for retainingsaid actuator in position withthe valve set, means governed by the fluid in the receptacle forreleasing said actuator to release said valve, a carrier for saidactuator,

for said retaining means and for its releasing means, and means foradjusting said carrier and for setting said actuator.

15. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, an

actuator for said setting means, meansfor retaining sa1d actuator inposition With the valve set, means governed by the fluid in thereceptacle for releasing said actuator to release said valve, a carrierfor said actuator, for said retaining means and for its releasing means,and means for setting said actuator, and for thereafter adjusting saidcarrier.

16. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve,

a carrier, an actuator for said setting means mounted on said carrier, aretainer mounted on said carrier for holding said actuator in positionwith the valve set, and a float adapted to engage said retainer torelease said actuator.

17. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, an actuator forsaid setting means mounted on said carrier, a retainer mounted on saidcarrier for holding said actuator in position with the valve set, afloat adapted to engage said retainer to release said actuator, andmeans for adjusting said carrier.

18. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, an actuator forsaid setting means mounted on said carrier, a retainer mounted on saidcarrier for holding said actuator in position with the valve set, and afloat movably mounted on said carrier and adapted to release saidactuator.

19. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve,

a carrier, an actuator for said settingmeans mounted on said carrier, aretainer mounted *on said carrier for holding said actuator in positionwith the valve set, afloat movably mounted on said carrier'and adaptedto release said actuator, and means for adjusting said carrier.

' 20. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a'recepta'cle, a valve'in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, an actuator for.said settlng means mounted on said carrier, a retainer mounted on saidcarrier for holding said-actuatorin'position with the valve set,a'float'adapted to engage said retainer to release said actuator, andmeans for setting said actuator and for thereafter adjusting SfllClcarrier. 21. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, afluid connection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve insaid connection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, a gravityactuator mounted on said carrier and connected with said setting means,a retainer mounted on said carrier for holding said actuator in positionwith the valve set, and a float adapted to engage said retainer torelease said actuator.

22. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a

carrier, an actuating'connection for said setting means, a, gravityactuator movable on said actuating connection, a retainer for saidactuator mounted on said carrier adapted to hold the actuator insuspension, and a float adapted to engage said retainer to release saidactuator, whereby said actuator Will operate by its inertia to releasesaid valve.

23. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve,

a carrier, an actuating connection for said setting means, a gravityactuator movable on said actuating connection, a retainer for saidactuator mounted on said carrier adapted to hold the actuator insuspension, means for setting said actuator, and a float adapted toengage said retainer to release said actuator, whereby said actuatorwill operate by its inertia to release said valve.

24. In fluid controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, an actuatingconnection for said setting means, a gravity actuator movable on saidactuating connection, a retainer for said actuator mounted on saidcarrier adapted to hold the actuator in suspension, means for adjustingsaid carrier, and a float adapted to engage said retainer to releasesaid actuator, whereby said actuator will operate by its inertia torelease said valve.

25. In fluid controlling mechanism 01' the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid to a receptacle, a valve in saidconnection, means for setting said valve, a carrier, an actuatingconnection for said setting means, a gravity actuator movable on saidactuating connection, a retainer for said actuator mounted on saidcarrier adapted to hold the actuator in suspension, means forsettingsaid actuator and for thereafter adjusting said carrier, and a floatadapted to engage said retainer to release said actuator, wherebysaidactuatorwill operate by its inertia to releasesaid valve.

26. In fluid. controlling mechanism of the class described, a fluidconnection adapted to deliver fluid toa receptacle, a valve casing insaid connection, a valve in said casing, a segment operatively connectedwith said valve, a latch engaging said segment adapted to adjustably setsaid valve, means for moving said segment into and out of engagementwith said latch, and means governed by .the fluid in the receptacleadapted to release said latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this 26th day of April, 1916.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER.

Copies of this patent inay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of- Patents,

Washington, D. C.

